LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A mistrial was declared Friday in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of setting what eventually became the Palisades Fire. Prosecutors said they will try again.
The judge declared the mistrial after a jury on Thursday said that they could not reach a verdict in 29-year-old Rinderknecht’s trial on three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of fire and timber set aflame.
The deadlock was 10 jurors set on a not guilty verdict and two jurors determined to convict.
After previously stating they had reached a verdict, a jury is now deadlocked in the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht.
The jury’s note Thursday said “We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion.”
The jury also said there was nothing the court could do to help and that they were split on all three charges. Prosecution had requested Judge Anne Hwang to tell the jury to deliberate longer, but she said there was a “risk of coercion” given how definitive the jury seemed.
After the jury was dismissed, one of the jurors spoke to reporters outside the courthouse.
“I don’t think there was enough evidence to say he started the first fire,” said a jury member who gave her name only as Syrena, referring to the Lachman Fire. “But say he did? I don’t see why everybody else’s negligence of doing things incorrectly, where he needs to be responsible for the whole Palisades.”
Once jury deliberations began, Syrena said, “I guess it was just — didn’t realize how passionate some certain people felt. I thought personally, I was a ‘not guilty’ (vote), and I felt like I was going to be singled out and having to stand my ground, state my story. So I was kind of, like, a little relieved that I was on the more majority side — instead of being that person who wouldn’t budge.”
Syrena said she was “sad, as an American, that we couldn’t come to a conclusion. I mean, I honestly wish I could come back and do it, because I wish we could’ve come to a conclusion.”
Defense attorney Steve Haney said the vote count was a “pretty resounding indication” that his client is innocent.
Shortly after the mistrial was announced, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said that federal prosecutors “fully intend to retry this case.”
“The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire,” Essayli posted.
Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. He was charged with arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire and timber set aflame.
Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started a fire on Jan. 1, 2025, that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up Jan. 7. The Palisades Fire ultimately killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes as it incinerated hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and the city of Malibu. Rebuilding has moved slowly in the Pacific Palisades – only 17 homes have been certified for occupancy.
His trial began June 8 and featured eight days of lengthy testimony from investigators, experts and witnesses from surrounding areas. Jurors deliberated for 13 hours over the course of two days before concluding that they could not produce a unanimous verdict.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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